Machine implemented method and system of detecting a loss of sync at a port of a network device coupled to a port of another device is provided. The port includes logic configured to detect that a special character has not been received by the port for a programmable duration; and generates a signal for a processor of the network device indicating a loss of sync between the port of the network device and the port of the other device.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A machine implemented method of detecting a loss of sync at a port of a network device coupled to a port of another device, comprising: decoding a frame received at the port of the network device; detecting, from the decoded frame absence of an expected special character that has not been received by the port of the network device, where absence of the special character is not a code violation that occurs upon receipt of an invalid code at the port; generating a special character absent signal for a timer module that tracks a duration during which the special character has not been received at the port; and generating an interrupt signal for a processor of the network device indicating a loss of sync between the port of the network device and the port of another device when the tracked duration reaches a programmable duration.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the special character is a K character.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the K character is expected within a certain number of frames by the network device.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the network device is an adapter.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the network device uses Fibre Channel protocol to communicate.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the network device uses Fibre Channel over Ethernet protocol for communication.
7. A network device comprising: a port coupled to a port of another device for sending and receiving frames; wherein the port of the network device includes: a decode module for receiving and decoding incoming frames; a word sync logic that detects if valid data has been received and generates a loss of sync signal when valid data is not received; a special character recognition module that detects absence of an expected special character and sends an absent special character signal for a timer when the special character has not been received by the port; wherein absence of the special character is not a code violation that occurs upon receipt of an invalid code at the port; and the timer that tracks a duration for which the special character has not been received at the port and generates an interrupt signal for a processor of the network device indicating loss of sync between the port of the network device and the port of the other device when the tracked duration reaches a programmable duration.
8. The network device of claim 7 , wherein the special character is a K character.
9. The network device of claim 8 , wherein a K character is expected within a certain number of frames.
10. The network device of claim 7 , wherein the network device is an adapter.
11. The network device of claim 7 , wherein the network device uses Fibre Channel protocol to communicate.
12. The network device of claim 7 , wherein the network device uses Fibre Channel over Ethernet protocol for communication.
13. A non-transitory, machine readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions for performing a method, comprising machine executable code which when executed by at least one machine, causes the machine to: decode a frame received at the port of the network device; detect, from the decoded frame absence of an expected special character that has not been received by the port of the network device, where absence of the special character is not a code violation that occurs upon receipt of invalid code at the port; generate a special character absent signal for a timer module that tracks a duration during which the special character has not been received at the port; and generate an interrupt signal for a processor of the network device indicating a loss of sync between the port of the network device and the port of another device when the tracked duration reaches a programmable duration.
14. The non-transitory, machine readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the special character is a K character.
15. The non-transitory, machine readable storage medium of claim 14 , wherein a K character is expected within a certain number of frames by the network device.
16. The non-transitory, machine readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the network device is an adapter.
17. The non-transitory, machine readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the network device uses Fibre Channel protocol to communicate.
18. The non-transitory, machine readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the network device uses Fibre Channel over Ethernet protocol for communication.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
March 28, 2013
September 22, 2015
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